Expository Sermon

EXPOSITORY SERMON provides an example of an expository sermon and explains how to write an expository sermon.

How To Write An Expository Sermon

Expository sermons are developed from a passage of Scripture. Usually, expository sermons are the means by which ministers preach through books of the Bible.

Writing an expository sermon usually begins with the study of a text of Scripture. Once you have studied the text of Scripture, you start to develop the main preaching point or what some people call the big idea.

The Main Preaching Point

When you are teaching through a book of the Bible, expository sermons should cover one preaching point at a time.

For example, when you preach through the second book of Timothy, you may discover that the book of 2 Timothy can be divided into ten expository sermons.

Each of these ten expository sermons has a main preaching point; such as...

Rekindling the spiritual fire within (2 Timothy 1:1-18)

Being strong in the Lord (2 Timothy 2:1-7)

Encouraging others to faithful service (2 Timothy 2:8-13)

Facing faulty thinking with God's word (2 Timothy 2:14-19)

Striving to be a godly role model (2:21-26)

Living in perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1-9)

Remaining faithful to God (2 Timothy 3:10-17)

Facing the challenges of today's society (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

Serving God faithfully to the end (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

Working with God and others (2 Timothy 4:9-18)

The Sermon Sub-points

Once you have established the main preaching point, you will need to select the sermon sub-points. You select the sermon sub-points by asking the why, how, when, what, or where question of the main preaching point.

By the way, if you do diagrammatical and exegetical outlining in the study of the text, this step is relatively easy.

For example, the apostle Paul tells Timothy HOW he can rekindle the spiritual fire within.

So, the expository sermon would look like this:

There are eight ways to rekindle the spiritual fire within. They are:

Stir up the gift of God within (2 Timothy 1:6)

Consider God's resources (2 Timothy 1:7)

Accept the negative aspects of the gospel (2 Timothy 1:8)

Remember God's call upon our lives (2 Timothy 1:9-10)

Realize our Christian duty (2 Timothy 1:11-12a)

Trust God completely (2 Timothy1:12b)

Hold onto God's word (1:13-14)

Choose Godly friends (1:15-18)

Remember, an expository sermon will ask the why, how, when, what, or where question of the main preaching point.

Putting An Expository Sermon Together

Once you have completed your expository sermon outline, you will need to expand and explain your sermon outline with sermon content.

Of course, once you have completed putting content to your expository sermon outline, you will need to write an introduction and a conclusion. The introduction must introduce your main preaching point of your expository sermon. Your conclusion must brings to a close your expository sermon.

A dynamic expository sermon has a powerful introduction, an interesting body and an unforgettable conclusion. If you do these three parts well, you will preach powerfull sermons.